Star in talks to buy stake in India's Hathway

Rupert Murdoch's Star TV is in talks to acquire a 20% stake in Indian cable operator Hathway Cable & Datacom as part of its plan to re-enter the Indian cable industry.

If the talks are successful Star will gain access to a broadband network capable of delivering internet and cable TV and a platform to compete with rival Zee Network. Star lost its foothold in the Indian cable sector in October last year when it sold a 50% stake in its Zee joint venture back to the Indian broadcaster. Zee owns cable operator SitiCable and is planning to build a hybrid fibre optic-coaxial cable network in about 23 Indian cities (Screendaily, June 20).

Hathway is one of India's leading multiple system operators (MSOs) and claims to reach 1.5 million cable homes in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

Subscribe to Screen International

Screen International is the essential resource for the international film industry. Subscribe now for monthly editions, awards season weeklies, access to the Screen International archive and supplements including Stars of Tomorrow and World of Locations.